Press Releases
Seminar for UK Legal Professionals on Japan's Implementation of The Hague Convention
October 29, 2025
On October 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held a seminar titled "Japan and the 1980 Hague Convention: The Reality of Implementation and Civil Code Amendments" for UK legal professionals in London. The overview of the seminar is as follows:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held this seminar primarily for legal professionals in the United Kingdom, as it recognizes the importance of informing relevant stakeholders abroad that Japan is steadily implementing the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Hague Convention). In view of the strong interest from overseas, the seminar also served as an opportunity to explain the latest amendment to the Civil Code and other related legislation of Japan in the field of family law, due to take effect by May next year.
- The seminar was attended by approximately 43 legal professionals, academics, and other experts from the United Kingdom. In addition, a UK “Network Judge” — a member of the international network of judges established to facilitate the exchange of information regarding the Hague Convention — also participated in the discussions.
- During the seminar, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as the Japanese Central Authority under the Convention, and from the Supreme Court of Japan, responsible for overseeing judicial proceedings on child return, explained Japan’s implementation of the Convention and relevant court procedures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice introduced the details of the latest family law reform. Following these presentations, a question-and-answer session was held, after which a judge of the High Court of England and Wales who serves as a Network Judge offered concluding remarks.
- It is expected that the seminar promoted greater understanding among legal professionals in the United Kingdom regarding the implementation of the 1980 Hague Convention and the Civil Code reform in Japan, and that the enhanced understanding will help facilitate their work on Hague Convention related matters.